Chinese Celery and Red Date Soup

Why people make this soup

We usually cook with crisp Western celery, but Nourilo points out that for food-therapy purposes Chinese celery (the fragrant, slimmer kind) is preferred. There is a folk observation worth noting: when blood pressure spikes from a swing in mood, fresh Chinese-celery juice is traditionally said to bring it down quickly. Simmered with red dates into this simple soup, it is traditionally associated with clearing heart-fire and calming the “liver-yang rising” pattern — the dizziness, head-tightness, irritability, ringing ears, restless dreams, bitter dry mouth and constipation that can come with high blood pressure.

Method

1. Wash the celery; pit and chop the red dates; chop both finely.
2. Simmer with 1.2 L of water down to 600 ml.
3. Drink over the course of one day.
4. Take for 5 days in a row.

Nourilo’s Tips

Celery is cooling, so the red dates are added to soften that cool nature. People with high blood pressure can drink it regularly. As a family dish, add a grass-carp tail and make it a soup the whole family can enjoy. Note: this is at most a 3-day batch to make ahead — don’t store it for the full 5 days, as it may spoil. Choose organic Chinese celery where possible for a stronger, more fragrant result.